What's up with my water?

[Amador]

Hi All,

So the water out of my tap is about 7.8 pH. I am using pH down by GH. I have the water in a 5g bucket with an air stone in it to help dissipate the chlorine. I pH'ed the water down to 6.8 for my soil grow. When I checked it about an hour later the pH had raised back up to 7.6. Why does it rise back up? I checked my meter and it's accurate. Thanks for your help.

A-

 

[DiscoBiscuit]

Try getting a reading from your runoff. Chances are your soil is affecting what you pour in. If your runoff is where you want it, fine. Don't use the pH down (or pH up) until your ready to pour into the soil.

Water soluble nutes will also lower pH. It will last longer but it's not recommended to feed with every water. Generally, one feeds, then plain-water (repeat.) You shouldn't have to use pH down except when you're using plain water. Otherwise, the nutes should be enough to lower pH to acceptable levels. Instead of a full dose of nutes, I'd try just enough nutes to get your water in check.

Too much pH up and/or down isn't the best thing for your roots. I hope you limed your soil, otherwise pH adjustments are too incremental if effective at all.